mson shook his head.

"Not to-day, old chap," he cried. "We're too busy. It would mean, too,
a long gallop, tiring our horses before we could get a shot, and then we
should not be in good condition for aiming."

"Oh, but, Joe, I daresay that is the wretch that killed the white ox,
and he is hanging about after another."

"To be sure: I forgot that," cried Emson excitedly. "Come on. But
steady: we can't lose sight of them, so let's canter, and follow till
they stand at bay or sneak into the bushes."

That was more to Dyke's taste, and side by side they followed the two
lions, as the great tawny-looking beasts cantered over the plain, their
heads down, tails drooping, and looking, as Dyke said, wonderfully like
a couple of great cats sneaking off after being found out stealing
cream.

There was no need to be silent, and Dyke kept on shouting remarks to his
brother as they cantered on over the dry bush and sand.

"I don't think much of lions, after all, Joe," he said; "they're not
half kings of beasts like you see in pictures and read of in books."

"You haven't seen one in a rage, old fellow," said Emson
good-humouredly.

"I don't believe they'd be anything much if they were," said Dyke
contemptuously. "They always seem to me to be creeping and sneaking
about like a cat after a mouse. Now look at those great strong things
going off like that, as soon as they see us, instead of roaring at us
and driving us away."

"Smell powder, perhaps, and are afraid of the guns."

"Well, but if they did, that isn't being brave as a lion, Joe. Why,
when they killed the white ox, there were four of them, and they did it
in the dark. I don't believe when you shot that the bullet went near
either of the brutes."

"No, but we scared them off."

"They killed the poor old bullock first, though."

"Well, didn't that give you a good idea of a lion's strength; the poor
beast's neck was broken."

"Let's show them to-day that we are stronger, and break _their_ necks,"
said Dyke. "Look out: they're gone." For the two great beasts suddenly
plunged into a patch of broken ground, where great blocks of granite
stood up from among the bushes, and sheltered them with larger growth.

It was the only hiding-place in sight, and for this the lions had made,
and now disappeared.

"We shan't get a shot at them now, old chap," cried Emson; "they lie as
snug as rats among those bushes. We want old Duke here."

"Oh, don't give up,"